Shrub rose plant named ‘Spromel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive semi-double blossoms that are orange to apricot with red coloration toward the center of the blossoms. The vegetation is vigorous and strong and the growth habit is upright and bushy. Attractive ornamental glossy dark green foliage is formed. The plant is particularly well suited for growing in a Western landscape. Distinctive ornamentation is provided.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Spromel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of landscape shrub rose plant of the present inventionwas created by artificial pollination carried out in April/May 2008 atBakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. Each parent possessed a complex parentage asindicated hereafter. More specifically, the parentage of thenon-patented female parent (i.e., seed parent) can be summarized asfollows: {‘MORtoday’×[‘Geisha’×(‘KINbo’×‘Macivy’)]}×‘SPRoimpress’. Themale parent (i.e., pollen parent) was the ‘Sprolych’ variety (U.S. Plantpatent application Ser, No. 13/998,618, filed Nov. 18, 2013). The‘SPRoimpress’ variety is the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,708. Theother ancestoral plants of the female parent are non-patented in theUnited States.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive        large semi-double blossoms that are orange to apricot with red        coloration toward the center of the blossoms,    -   (b) exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous and strong vegetation,    -   (d) forms attractive ornamental dark green foliage with a glossy        finish, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing distinctive ornamentation.

A new rose variety is provided having attractive multi-colored blossoms,combined with substantially continuous blooming. The plant reblooms welland displays an attractive bushy growth habit.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industryparticularly when grown in the Western landscape. It can be grown toadvantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas,and residential landscapes. The lavender and red blossom colorationcontrasts nicely with the medium green foliage.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its parental plants.More specifically, the female parent is a vigorous non-Hulthemia rosethat displays a considerably smaller growth habit, and formsyellow-colored blossoms. The male parent displays a compact growth habitand forms ivory-cream-colored blossoms with a larger central blotch.

The new variety also can be readily distinguished from the ‘Sprolem’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,580), as well as other plants in itsancestry identified hereafter. More specifically, the ‘Sprolem’ varietyforms bright yellow blossoms. The ‘MORtoday’ variety displays pinkblossoms with lavender at the base. The ‘Geisha’ variety displays mauveblossoms. The ‘KINbo’ variety forms double deep yellow blossoms. The‘Macivy’ variety displays very double apricot blossoms. The‘SPRoimpress’ variety displays dark yellow blossoms. The ‘Orangeade’variety displays orange to orange-red blossoms. The ‘Auscot’ varietyforms very large very double yellow blossoms with dark pink at the base.The ‘WEKfabpur’ variety forms purple blossoms with a lighter undersurface. The ‘SCRivluv’ variety displays single deep yellow blossoms. Itis recognized that Hulthemia roses generally bloom only once a year andgenerally display an unattractive growth habit.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation by theuse of cuttings from one generation to another at Wasco, Calif., U.S.A.Accordingly, the new variety can be asexually reproduced in atrue-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Spromel’, and will be marketed under theEYCONIC and MELON LOMONADE trademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical blossoms, buds, and foliage of the new variety. The illustratedplant was approximately two years of age and was growing duringSeptember, 2011 outdoors on its own roots in the field at Wasco, Calif.,U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart-1995 Edition or equivalent).The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens ofthe new variety during May while growing on their own roots in agreenhouse at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Shrub Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 4 feet when mature.        -   Width.—Approximately 3 feet when mature.        -   Habit.—Upright and bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144B. Adult            wood: near Greyed-Orange Group 165A.        -   Texture.—Young stems: smooth. Adult wood: somewhat rough.        -   Thorns.—Size: approximately 5 mm in length on average, and            approximately 6 mm in width at the widest point. Quantity:            numerous, and over a branch length of 13 cm approximately 35            thorns are present on average. Color on young stems:            Yellow-Green Group 145B and commonly glossy. Color on mature            wood: Greyed-Orange Group 177A, and blending to            Greyed-Orange Group 165B on at least some tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—A five-leaflet leaf commonly is approximately 7 cm in            length on average, and approximately 5.5 cm in width on            average.        -   Leaflets.—Number 3, 5, and 7. Shape: ovate with a serrate            margin. Apex: pointed. Base: rounded. Texture (upper            surface): smooth and glossy. Texture (under surface):            smooth. Size: terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 4            cm in length on average and approximately 3 cm in width on            average, and lower leaflets commonly are approximately 2 cm            in length on average and approximately 1.5 cm in width on            average. Color (young foliage): Yellow-Green Group 145A on            the upper surface, and Yellow-Green Group 145B on the under            surface. Color (fully mature foliage): commonly near Green            Group 137A on the upper surface, and Green Group 137C on the            under surface.        -   Petiole.—Length: commonly approximately 2.5 cm on average.            Diameter: commonly approximately 1 mm on average. Color:            near Yellow-Green group 144A.        -   Rachis.—Length: commonly approximately 5 cm on average.            Diameter: commonly approximately 1 mm on average. Color:            near Yellow-Green group 144A.        -   Stipules.—Length: approximately 11 mm on average. Width:            approximately 2 mm on average. Color (upper surface): near            Green Group 143C. Color (under surface): near Green Group            143A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Singly or in cluster of up to            approximately eight blossoms per stem, and commonly            approximately 20 flowers on plant at a given time.        -   Peduncle.—Smooth in texture and commonly covered with small            flexible thorns that are under 1 mm in length, near            Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration, and approximately 2.5            cm in length on average.        -   Sepals.—Number: five. Length: commonly approximately 1.8 cm            on average. Width: commonly approximately 7 mm on average.            Shape: lanceolate. Apex: cuspidate. Margin: commonly            approximately 1 to 3 extensions having lengths of            approximately 2 mm on average on three of the five sepals.            Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146D, and covered            with short hairs. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group            146B, and covered with short hairs.        -   Buds.—Shape: ovoid. Length: approximately 2 cm on average.            Diameter: commonly approximately 1.3 cm on average. Color:            Orange-Red Group 31B, and blending to Yellow-Orange Group            21C at the base.        -   Flower.—Form: semi-double, cuplike. Diameter: approximately            6.5 cm on average. Depth: approximately 3 cm on average when            open. Color (when opening begins): upper surface: near Red            Group 37A at the point of petal attachment, transitioning to            Red-Purple Group 57A, and blending to Yellow-Orange Group            17C at the petal apex. Under surface: near Red Group 37B at            the point of petal attachment, and blending to near            Yellow-Orange Group 19A at the petal apex. Color (when fully            open): Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 71C at the point            of attachment, transitioning to near Red-Purple Group 69C,            and finally blending to near Red-Purple Group 69A at the            petal apex. Under surface: near Red-Purple Group 62D at the            point of attachment, and blending to Yellow Group 8C at the            petal apex. Fragrance: none noticeable. Petal shape:            obcordate. Petal length: commonly approximately 3.5 cm on            average. Petal width: commonly approximately 3.7 cm on            average. Petal margin: entire. Petal apex: broadly            obcordate. Petal base: broadly cuneate. Petal texture:            glabrous on both surfaces. Petal number: 8 to 12, and            commonly approximately 10 on average. Petal drop: good, with            the petals commonly dropping cleanly and freely. Stamen            number: approximately 57 on average. Anthers: near            Greyed-Orange Group 164C in coloration. Filaments:            approximately 8 mm in length on average, and near Orange-Red            Group 16A at the top, and transitioning to near            Yellow-Orange Group 34B at the base. Pollen: commonly            present in a moderate quantity, and near Yellow-Orange Group            22A in coloration. Pistils: separate and free, and commonly            approximately 21 in number on average. Stigmas: near Yellow            Group 11C in coloration, and approximately 1 mm in width.            Styles: near Orange Group 26C in coloration and            approximately 2 mm in length. Lastingness: the blossoms            commonly last approximately five days on the plant under            normal environmental conditions. Receptacle: circular in            shape, smooth, achenes stand on the bottom and wall,            approximately 7 mm in diameter, and near Yellow-Green Group            144A in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and strong.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Typical for the type with the plant            being best suited for growing in the Western States.        -   Propensity to form hips/seeds.—Sparse.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 6 to 9.

Plants of the new ‘Spromel’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly andsubstantially continuously forms attractive large semi-double blossomsthat are orange to apricot with red coloration toward the center of theblossoms, (b) exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit, (c) formsvigorous and strong vegetation, (d) forms attractive ornamental darkgreen foliage with a glossy finish, and (e) is well suited for providingdistinctive ornamentation; substantially as herein shown and described.